Loss of Dignity, Loss of Life

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. Mark 7:21-23

It is clear from Scripture that pride is a sin. And yet we tell our young people to take pride in their work and we want people to have strong self-esteem.

I want to propose to you that what we actually want people to have is dignity.

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Dictionary.com defines dignity:

(1) bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation

(2) nobility or elevation of character; worthiness

My pride comes from what I can do, what I have accomplished. But my dignity comes from who God says I am.

This has been on my mind lately. As my mobility continues to decline -- thankfully, more slowly now than it has over the past year -- it occurs to me that dignity is very important. As I need to ask for help more consistently and for more activities, it would be easy to feel depressed and hopeless. I've gone from an able and slightly-active adult to disabled. I've gone from contributing to the betterment of the world to not contributing and will continue to progress to become a burden.

Or, I could see it that way. If I thought pride and dignity are the same. If my self-worth is based on what I can accomplish, well, then, I've lost all pride.

But I have not lost my dignity, because my dignity is based on God's view of me. Who does God say I am?

I am a child of God. John 1:12

I am a friend of Jesus. John 15:15

I am justified -- made as if I have never sinned. Romans 3:24

I am redeemed. 1 Peter 1:18-19

I am no longer a slave to sin. Romans 6:6

I am accepted into God's kingdom. Romans 15:7

I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthian 6:19 **

I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am chosen. Ephesians 1:4

Of course there is more where that comes from.

No matter what you are facing, no matter what the world calls you, remember what God says about you.

**That's something I need to think more about.